Switch-actuating mechanism.



J. L. McOUARRlE.

SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM. APPLICATlON FILED MAR.10.1915.

1 04,466. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

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J. L. McQUARRIE.

SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1915.

1,204,466. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

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J. L. McQUARRIE. SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I0, ms.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

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J L. McQUARRIE.

SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, I915.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

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J. L. McQUARRlE. SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1915.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

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SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1915.

1,204,466. Patented Nov. 14,1916.

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@MML/ I AM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES I4. MOQUARRIE, 0F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK.

SWITCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 14, 1916.

Application filed March 10, 1915. Serial No. 13,453.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES L. MoQUem RIE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Switch- Actuating Mechanism, of which the following is afull, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to operating mechanism for switching apparatusused in automatic telephone systems, and is particularly designed foruse with power driven switches of the panel type. c

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of commonactuating mechanism arranged to serve a number or group of individualswitches. In this invention there is a single set'of control magnets fora plurality of switches, and means are provided whereby they may beassociated with any switch taken for use in order to control theoperation thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of myinvention in which all the actuating magnets and associated parts aremounted in a single frame and is associated with a switch whenever it isdriven to set position and again when it is returned to normal; Fig. 2is a diagrammatic view of the contacts at the bottom of the switchstructure through which the circuits for the operating magnets extend;Fig. 3 is a perspective View of an embodiment of my invention in whichdifferent sets of magnets are provided, one being associated with aswitch to control selection and the second being associated with theswitch to return it to its normal position; Fig. is a side elevation ofa portion of a multiple brush panel switch; Fig. 5 is a side view of theinterrupter at the upper end of said switch; Fig. 6 represents anenlarged crosssection on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspectiveView of the brush sets with parts taken away; Figs. 8 and 9 takentogether, with Fig. 8 at the left illustrate a circuit arrangementadapted to control the tion of the modification of the switch shown inFig. 3.

Heretofore, switches of the panel type have required a set of operatingmagnets individual to each switch. By this invention the individualoperating mechanisms are dispensed with, and a single set of operatingmagnets and associated parts are provided to control the operation of aplurality or group of switches. These magnets, which control the up anddown-drive of the switch carriage and also the tripping of the desiredset of brushes, are, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, mounted in asingle frame. By means of an endless worm or spiral this frame may beshifted into a position to control the operation of any desired switch.

The switch structure, aside from the operating mechanism forming thesubject of this invention, may be substantially such as described inPatent No. 1,123,696 and will, therefore, be only briefly describedherein.

Referring to Fig. 4, the switch comprises a longitudinally movable shaft1 having a plurality of sets 2 of brushes fixed thereto. These sets ofbrushes will ordinarily be five in number, but only three are shown inthe drawing. Each set of brushes 2 is arranged to traverse a section 3of the line terminals. A rotatable power drum 4, when the bar 5 of theswitch is forced into engagement therewith through the movement of anidler pulley forming part of this invention, causes the brush shaft tobe driven downward to normal. In a similar manner, the rotatable shaft 6(Figs. 1 and 3) is arranged to cause the switch to be moved upward toits set position. Carried by the shaft 1 are a plurality of interrupterbrushes 7 8 and 9, which in the movement of the switch shaft, are causedto traverse their respective commutators or interrupters shown in Fig. 5to control the operation of the. switch mechanism, as will later appear.The brushes of each of the sets 2 are normally held in a position, sothey will not engage the trunk terminal contacts, by means of an arm ona bell crank trip lever 10 being positioned between the two innermostbrushes of the set. A trip rod 11 is provided. This rod carries aplurality of flexible fingers 12 (see Fig. 7 which Cir are positioned atprogressively increasing distances from the normal position of thehorizontal arms 13 of the trip levers 10. Secured to a bracket fixed tothe support below the lowermost set of brushes is a link 15. Secured tothe trip rod 11, near the lower end thereof is a finger 16 which issecured to the link 15 by means of the strap 17. The trip rod 11 whendisplaced, is returned to its normal position by means of a spring 18,one end of which is secured to a portion of the arm 16, the other endbeing secured to a pin 19 projecting from the switch frame. If the rod11 is rotated in a clockwise direction during the pre liminary upwardmovement of the switch shaft, one of the fingers 12 will engage its triplever 13, while the remaining trip fin gers will pass through the lineof travel of their trip levers to the other side. Thus it will be seenthat the set of brushes to be tripped or released depends on thedistance the shaft travels prior to the rotation of the trip rod 11.

I will now describe the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing. Mounted on each side of the elevator bars 5 of a group ofswitches is supporting member 20, only one being shown in the drawings.In this supporting member the power rolls 4 and 0 are journaled.Journaled in the frame members 20, parallel to the rolls 4 and 6 but onthe opposite side of the elevator bars 5, is a shaft or drum 21 formedwith an endless spiral groove 22. Slidably mounted on the shaft 21 is asleeve 23 to which is rigidly secured the frame members 24 which supportthe common actuating mechanism of this device. At the right end of thesleeve is a bracket 25, through which extends the plunger 26. Secured tothe lower end of the plunger 26 is the follower 27 constantly maintainedin engagement with the endless groove by means of a spring 28. The framemembers 24 are provided at the top and bottom respectively with therollers 29 and 30, which maintain the frame in a vertical position byengagement with the guide strips 31 and 32 respectively secured to the f'ame members 20. Secured between the outwardly extending portions 33 ofthe supporting members 24 are the bars which form the cores of the tripmagnet 34 and the dmvn-drive clutch magnet 35. Pivotally mounted betweenthe upwardly extending ends of the members 33 is the armature 36 of thetrip magnet 34, which armature is normally held in its retractedposition in engagement with the pin 37 by means of a spring 38.Pivotally supported between the members 24, adjacent the lower end ofthe clutch magnet 35, is an armature 39 and the operating lever 40normally maintained in spaced relation by means of the adjustable stop41 and the spring 42, one end of which is secured to the bracket member43 carried by the armature 39, and the other end of which is secured toa pin 44 which extends through the armature 39 and is socured to thelever 40. Lever 40, adjacent the elevating bars, is provided with a pairof upwardly extending fingers between which is rotatably mounted theidler pulley 45. Integral with the armature 39 is an upwardly projectingfinger (33, which upon the energization of the down-drive clutch magnet35, engages the outwardly extending arm of the pawl 60 and causes thepawl to disengage the perforation in the bar 5. On account of the springconnection between the armature 39 and the lever 40, the pawl 60 will bere tracted slightly before the idler pulley 45 operatively engages thebar 5. The pawl is secured to the bracket 59, carried by the switchframe, and normally held in position to engage the openings 61 in theelevator bars 5 by means of the spring 62. The purpose of this pawl isto maintain the switch in its elevated position while it is in use, andthe structure thereof is more clearly described in Patent No. 1,122,642.A clutch structure similar to that above described is clearly disclosedin Patent No. 1,103,623. The members 24 are also provided with theprojecting portions 46 between which are secured the cores 47 of theup-drive clutch magnet 48. This magnet is provided with an armaturestructure and an idler pulley similar to that described in connectionwith the down-drive magnet 35. Insulatively secured to the lower end ofthe members 24 is a set of wipers 49 which, upon lateral move ment ofthe common actuating mechanism, are arranged to traverse the contacts inthe bank 50 for a purpose which will appear upon describing the systemwith which this device may be used. The power rolls 4 and 6 areconstantly driven from an external source of power in a manner which iswell understood. Rigidly secured to the shaft of the roll 4 is thefriction drum 51, and rigidly secured to the end of the worm shaft 21 isa friction roller 52. Mounted on the member 20, adjacent to the rollers51 and 52, is the common actuating drive clutch magnet 53 provided witha pivotally supported armature 54 which is normally maintained ininoperative position by means of the spring 55, one end of which issecured to the rear end of the armature 54, the other end being securedin any desired manner to the member 20. Pivotally secured to the freeend of the armature 54 is a bracket member 56 provided with a pair oflugs 57 between which is rotatably mounted the friction disk 58. Therelative positions of the friction rollers 51, 52 and 58 are such thatwhen roller 58 is drawn downward by the energization of the magnet 53,it is wedged between or engages the friction drums 51 and 52, and

thereby transmits motion from the constantly rotating drum 51 to theworm shaft 21. The rotation of the shaft 21 causes, by means of theendless spiral 22 and follower 27, the common actuating mechanism tomove backward and forward past the face of the operating bars 5, so thatit may be associated with the bar 5 of any desired switch. The manner inwhich a switch is selected will appear later.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings willnow be described. The device herein disclosed. is similar to that shownin Fig. 1, except that a second comm on actuating mechanism is providedfor releasing and returning the switch to its normal position. Thiscommon actuating mechanism is mounted on an independent worm shaft, andis only associated with the switch when it is to be returned to itsnormal position. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the up-drive drum 6is at the top and the down-drive drum 4: is at the bottom. Each elevatorbar 5 is provided at a point slightly above the drum t with a holdingpawl 83. These pawls are not shown in Fig. 3 as they would occupypositions back of the worm 78. They are, however, of a constructionsimilar to the structure shown in Fig. L and their position andoperation are indicated in Fig. 10. Extending parallel to the shaft 6 isa worm 6% upon which travels the sleeve 65. This collar carries the tripmagnet 34; and the up-drive magnet 18. It also carries at the lower endthereof a set of brushes 66 which, in the movement of the switch,traverse the contacts in the bank 67. The armature 68 of the clutchmagnet 69 is normally maintained in inoperative position by means of thespring 70. Pivotally secured between the ears 71 of the armature 68 is abracket member 72 provided with fingers 73 between which is rotatablymounted the friction roller 74. A spring 7 5 holds the roller 74: out ofengagement with the friction roller 76 on the power shaft 6, and intoengagement with the friction disk 7 7 on the worm shaft 6% when thearmature is in its retracted position. Rotatably mounted in the members20, adjacent to the shaft 1, is a worm shaft 78 on which is slidablymounted the sleeve 79 which carries the bracket or frame members 80 towhich is secured the down-drive clutch magnet 81. The sleeve 79 isprovided with a follower which traverses the spiral groove of the wormshaft 7 8 in the same manner as the follower 27 operates in thestructure disclosed in Fig. 1. The frame members 80 are provided at thetop and bottom respectively with rollers 86 and 87, which are arrangedto travel on the strips 88 and 89 to prevent rotary movement of theactuating mechanism about the worm 78. Secured to the end of the powershaft 4 is a friction disk 90, and secured to the worm shaft 78 is afriction disk 91. Power is transmitted from the disk 90 to the disk 91through the medium of the friction disk 02,.carried by the armature 93of the downdrive clutch magnet 94, in a manner which is now wellunderstood. As the individual clutch magnet structures of the deviceshown in Fig. 3 are substantially identical with those shown in Fig. 2,they will not be again described. The contact bank 67, shown in Fig. 3,is provided with two groups of contacts, one projecting upward in aposition to be engaged by the brushes 66 carried by the sleeve 65, andthe other set projecting dmvnward in a position to be engaged by thebrushes 14:1 carried by the sleeve 79. The function of these contacts inthe modification shown in Fig. 3 is the same as the similar contactsshown in Fig. 1, that is, to control the circuits of the various magnetsof the common actuating mechanism.

Referring now to the circuit shown in Figs. 8 and 9 which illustrate theuse of the device shown in Fig. 1 as a line finder. This switch, aspreviously described, is a multiple brush structure. In. practice fivesets of brushes are usually provided, each adapted to traverse a sectionof the fixed terminals in the panel bank. Each section in the bank maybe provided with as many fixed terminals as desired, one hundred being acommon number, but in a line finder a smaller number may be employed.Each section of the contacts on the panel representmultiple terminals ofa group of subscribers lines.

Referring to Fig. 8, the subscribers station shown at the rightrepresents one of the 0 group of subscribers whose lines terminate onthe lowermost section of the panel. The subscriber at the leftrepresents one of the subscribers in the 1 group which subscribers linesterminate at the second section from the bottom of the panel bank.WVhile only two groups are indicated in Fig. 8, it is to be understoodthat in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed there will befive groups of lines. A pair of relays 100 and 101 which may be termedcounting relays will be provided for each group of lines. That is, foreach group of subscribers lines, which we may assume as 100, there willbe a pair of relays 100 and 101 common to all the lines of the group. Asthe circuit connections of the succeeding pairs of relays are the sameas those shown, only two pairs are illustrated in the drawing.Associated with the five pairs of relays 0f the said groups is a doublewound relay 102 and a relay 103, those relays being common to all thelines which terminate in the fixed contacts of the finder switch. Asequence switch such as specification the numeral in brackets whichfollows a reference character used to designate a sequence switchcontact, indicates the position of the sequence switch at which thecircuit being traced is completed. 011 the drawings the numeral ornumerals adjacent to a sequence switch contact indicates the position orpositions in which the contact is closed, except contacts A (Fig. 9) and(Fig. 10), which are open at the positions indicated. Assuming now thatthe subscriber at substation S (Fig. 8), initiates a a call by removinghis receiver from the hook, a circuit will be completed from groundedbattery through line relay 10 1, contact of cut-off relay 105, thesubstation apparatus and back to ground through the left armature ofcut-off relay 105. Belay 101 will be energized and complete a circuitfrom ground through its armature and inner contact, conductor 100,armature and back cont-act of relay 100, conductor 107, sequence switchcontact J (2), conductor 102 and left winding of relay 109 to groundedbattery.

Before continuing the description, it may be noted that the switch nextto be used in finding a calling line is preselected and that the commonoperating mechanism is in asso ciation therewith. It should also benoted that the sequence switch of this preselected line finder stands inposition 2. The manner in which this is accomplished will hereinafterappear. When relay 109 is operated it completes a circuit from groundthrough its right armature and front contact, sequence switch contact- B(2), conductor 110, sequence switch motor magnet 111 to battery andground. The sequence switch then moves from position to position 3; Thisinterrupts the energizing circuit for relay 109 which falls back,completing through its right armature a circuit from ground, sequenceswitch contact B and sequence switch magnet 111 to battery and ground.This moves the sequence switch to position at. In position 1 a circuitis completed from grounded battery through the left winding of relay109, sequence switch contact J (4:), conductor 112, relay 103, backcontact of relay 102, conductor 113, sequence switch contact G (1) toground. (Conductors 107, 112 and 113 are multipled to correspondingsequence switch contacts of all the line finders of a group.) Relays 103and 109 are energized. Relay 103 completes a circuit from groundedbattery through relay 101, back contact of relay 100 to ground. Relay101 pulls up and completes a circuit for itself in series with relay 100through conductors 113 to ground at contact G (1). Relay 100 does notpull up, however, due to its being short circuited by the armature ofrelay 103. Relay 109 completes, through its right armature and sequenceswitch contact B (4:) a circuit for sequence switch motor magnet 111 andthe sequence switch goes to position In position 5 a locking circuit isestablished for relays 109, 103, which extends from grounded batterythrough the left winding of relay 109, front contact and left armature,sequence switch contact J (5), conductor 112, winding of relay 103, backcontact of relay 102, conductor 113, sequence switch contact G (5) toground.

Under the assumption that the common actuating mechanism is associatedwith the set of contacts in the bank 50, which are individual to thepreselected switch to be operated, in position 5 a circuit will extendfrom grounded battery through conducting strip 1.15 (Fig. 9), theinnermost brush of the set 19, the up-drive clutch magnet 18, the secondfrom the bottom brush of set 19, sequence switch contact C and frontcontact and ri 'ht armature .of relay 109 to ground. The clutch magnetis energized and the brush shaft moves upward. Just prior to reachingthe first brush selecting position, the interrupter brush 8 engages thelowermost conducting segment of the interrupter 116. This causes therelay 103 (Fig. 8) to be short circuited by a circuit extending fromground, through interrupter brush 8 and the interrupter sequence switchcontact H (5) to sequence switch contact J (5), where it joins theseries circuit through the left winding of relay 109 and relay 103. Thedeenergization of relay 103 removes the short circuit from relay 100.Relay 101 is thus energized and in pulling up completes a holdingcircuit for itself and relay 100 in series, through its front contactand armature, and conductor 113 to ground, through sequence switchcontact G (5). lVhen the interrupter brush 8 engages the next insulatedse ment of the interrupter, relay 103 again retracts its armature andcompletes a circuit from ground, through the inner contact of relay 100,back contact of relay 100 to ground, through counting relay 101. Relay101 attracts its armature and completes a locking circuit for itself inseries with relay 100, which circuit extends through its contact andarmature and over conductor 113 to ground through sequence switchcontact, as before. Relay 100 being short circuited does not pull upuntil relay 103 deenergizes, when the interrupter brush 8 engages thesecond conducting segment of the interrupter 116, which occurs the nextinstant.

As we assumed that subscriber S has removed his receiver from the hookand that line relay 10-1 is in its energized condition, upon theenergization of relay 100 a circuit will be completed from ground,through .armature and front contact of relay 104:,

conductor 106, armature and front contact of relay 100', conductor 11Sand left winding of relay 102, to grounded battery. Re-

' magnet lay 102 is energized and interrupts the circuit through leftwinding of relay 109 and relay 103. Now, when the interrupter brush 8IIIO"S on to the next insulating segment of interrupter 116, relay 109falls off and completes through sequence switch contact B (5) a circuitfor sequence switch motor magnet 111, and the sequence switch moves toposition 6. In positionfi a circuit for the trip magnet 34 is completedfrom battery, through conducting strip 115, upper brush of set 49,winding of magnet 34, brush 119, and the contact engaged thereby toground through sequence switch contact D (6). The 3% attracts itsarmature which engages the end of link 15, causing-it to rock outwardly,and through the medium of strap 17 to rotate the trip rod 11. Thiscauses the finger 12, associated with the second brush set from thebottom, to engage its respectii'e trip lever 13 and release thecorresponding set of brushes. In position 6 a circuit is completed fromgrounded battery through the left winding of relay 109 to ground,through sequence switch contact Gr (6). Relay 109 through its rightarmature, completes a circuit for motor magnet 111 which moves theswitch into position 7. In position 7, the previously described circuitfor up-drive clutch magnet 48 is again completed, and the shaft 1 movesupward causing the brushes thereof to traverse the line terminalcontacts of its respective section of the panel bank. During the travelof the switch from its brush tripping position until the brushes engagethe first set of contacts in the bank, a holding circuit is providedfrom battery through left winding of relay 109, contact and leftarmature of 109, contact E (6 to 7 conducting segment 142, to groundthrough brush 9. In position 7 a test circuit is provided from groundedbattery, through the left winding of relay 109, left contact andarmature, sequence switch contact H (7), the left brush of the switch tothe contact engaged thereby. Unless the line which terminates at a setof contacts engaged by the brush is a seeking line, the contact engagedby the left brush will be grounded. If the line is idle, the guardingpotential will be supplied through the back contact of the line relay ofthe respective line, and if the line is busy, through the test brush inengagement therewith, to ground through sequence switch contact H ofsaid switch, as will presently appear. Relay 109 is therefore maintainedenergized until the switch brushes engage the contacts of the callingline. Ground potential will not be found upon the test contact of acalling line as the line relay will be energized. Relay 109 will bedeenergized, interrupting the circuit of the clutch magnet 48 andcompleting at its back contact and right armature a circuit throughsequence switch contact B (7 and sequence switch motor magnet 111 togrounded battery. The sequence switch then moves into position 8.

Should the callingsubscriber place his receiver on the hook before thebrushes have reached the terminals of his line, 01' for any otherreason, should the test of the calling line fail to take place, theswitch shaft will continue to be moved upwardly until the brush 8engages the conducting segment 82, when a circuit will be completedthrough sequence switch contact K (7) for the motor magnet 111, whichwill move the sequence switch into position 8. In position 8 the powercircuit will be interrupted at contact C (7) and a circuit will becompleted from grounded battery, tell tale signal 83 contact K (8),segment 82 and brush 8 to ground. The operation of signal 83 willindicate the position of the switch to the operator. Re-

turning now to the point where the switch has stopped on the contacts ofthe calling line, in position 8 a circuit is completed from ground,through sequence switch contact F (8) to battery through the signallight 122 associated with the jack at the outgoing end of the trunkwhich terminates in the actuated line finder. While a plug and jackswitch is shown at the outgoing end of this trunk, it is to beunderstood that any other form ofa line connecting device may be equallyas well employed. The sequence switch remains in position 8 until theplug 124 is inserted in jack 123 when a circuit is completed fromground, through the right winding of relay 109, sleeve contacts of theplug and jack, to grounded battery. Relay 109 is energized and completedthrough its front contact and contact B (8) an energiz ing circuit forsequence switch motor magnet 111, which moves the sequence switch intoposition 9. In position 9 the talking strands of the trunk are completedfrom the line finder brushes to the outgoing end by means of thesequence switch contacts E and F (9). I

At the time the sequence switch passed into position 8, a circuit wascompleted from grounded battery, through the winding of clutch magnetrelay 125, brush 126, the contact engaged thereby to ground, throughsequence switch contact D (8 to 17) to ground. Relay 125 is energizedand completes a circuit from ground, through its armature and frontcontact, clutch magnet 53 to grounded battery. Magnet 53 is energized,and by attracting its armature operatively engages the friction disk 58with the power roller 51 and the friction disk 52 at the end of the worm21. All switches which are not being operated to establish a connectingcircuit will be in position 1 if the switch is in its normal position,or will be in position 18 if it is awaiting return to normal. Nosequence switch, except the one with which the common mechanism isassociated, can be in positions 2 to 7. As the worm 21 rotates, it movesthe common mechanism away from association with the switch just actuatedand into association with the next switch, the brush set 49 being causedto engage the next set of contacts in the bank 50. This may be the nextset, either at the right or at the left, depending upon in which half ofthe spiral the follower 27 is located. We will now assume that the nextswitch is an idle switch, in which case the sequence switch thereof willbe in position 1 and sequence switch contact D thereof will be open.Relay, 125 however, will be maintained energized until the brushes ofset 19 are centrally positioned on the contacts in the bank 50 by meansof the engagement of brush 127 with one of the grounded contacts 128.)Vhen the common mechanism is centrally positioned before the idleswitch, the circuit of relay 125 will be interrupted. Relay 125 inretracting its armature will open the circuit for clutch magnet 53,stopping the actuating mechanism in association with this switch. Relay125 in retracting its armature will also complete a circuit fromgrounded battery, through the sequence switch motor magnet(corresponding to 111) of the selector switch with which the commonmechanism is now associated. This circuit may be traced from batterythrough said motor magnet, sequence switch contact B (1), the lowermostcontact and brush of the common release mechanism to ground through theback contact and armature of relay 125. The sequence switch of the se'lected line finder will then move into position 2, in which position wefind it when a call is initiated by a subscriber. Now, assuming that thenext switch with which the common mechanism is associated, is a switchwhich has been used but has not been returned to normal position. Thesequence switch associated with this line finder will be in position 18in which position the contact D will be disconnected from the testcontact in bank 50, and when the common mechanism is centrallypositioned before the switch bar 5, the circuit of relay 125 will beopened as before to stop the mechanism in association with the switch.The sequence switch of this switch being in position 18, a circuit willbe completed from battery, through conducting segment 115, the brush inengagement therewith, the down-drive and release magnet 35, the middlebrush of the set and contact engaged thereby to ground, through sequenceswitch contact D (18). Shaft 1 will then be moved downward in a mannerwell understood, until the interrupter brush 7 engages the conductingsegment 130, when a circuit will be completed for the sequence switchthrough contact B (18) of said switch, which will drive I will nowdescribe the circuits shown in Figs. 8 and 10, which are arranged tocontrol the operation of the embodiment of my invention, in which aseparate common actuating mechanism is provided to release the actuatedswitch and return it to normal. As the process of making connection to aline upon which a call has been initiated is exactly the same with thisstructure as in the one just described, that part of the descriptionwill not be repeated but may be followed in Fig. 10 of the drawings, assimilar parts in Figs. 9 and 10 to that extent are represented by thesame reference characters. The difference in the operation of the twosystems begins at the point when the operator removes the plug 124 fromjack 123, with the exception that the upper left contact sequence switchcontact D is closed from position 8 to 18 in the circuit shown in Fig.10, instead of from position '8 to 17 as disclosed in Fig. 9. Therefore,when the common updrive mechanism is moved away from an actuated switch,it will not stop in association with a line finder switch, the sequenceswitch of which is in position 18, in which position the switch isawaiting return to its normal position. The sequence switch at the timeof removal of plug 12-1 is in position 9 or in talking position. Theretraction of the right armature of relay 109 completes a circuitthrough contact B (9) for sequence switch motor magnet 111, which causesit to move from position 9 directly to position 18. In position 18sequence switch contact L is closed. This grounds the common conductor131. The common return mechanism, except when in active service, will beassociated with a line finder, the sequence switch of which is inpositions 1 to 17. That is, it will never remain inactive in associationwith a switch, the sequence switch of which is in position 18 which isthe return to normal position. Assuming that the common mechanism is nowassociated with the switch corresponding to the sequence switch havingcontact L The sequence switch of this switch will be somewhere frompositions 1 to 17, and a circuit will be completed from ground throughsequence switch contact L (18), common conductor 131 sequence switchcontact L (1 to 17), contact and brush 132 in engagement therewith,clutch magnet relay 133, to grounded battery. Relay 133 will operate andcomplete a circuit for magnet 94, which in pulling up will force thefriction disk 92 into operative engagement with the power drum 90, andthe friction disk 91 at the end of worm 78. The worm 78 will revolve,causing the common return mechanism to be shifted from switch to switch,but as ground potential will be maintained upon the contacts engaged bybrush 132 through contacts L, L, etc., of all switches, except the oneawaiting return to normal, magnet 9 1. will be maintained energized, andthe worm 78 will continue to rotate until the brush 132 engages thecontact connected to sequence switch contact L which will be open. Whenthe "mechanism has been centrally positioned before this switch, relay133 will fall ofi'and open the circuit of magnet 95L to stop themechanism in association with the desired switch. The sequence switch ofthis line finder being in position 18, a circuit will be completed fromground, through sequence switch contact D (18), contact and brush 134,back contact of relay 133, release and down-drive magnet 81, through theupper brush and conducting segment 135, to grounded battery. The holdingpawl 83 will be retracted and the switch will be lowered by the actionof the drum 4 on the bar 5. As the switch approaches its lowermostposition, the interrupter brush 7 will engage the conducting segment130, completing a circuit through sequence switch contact (18) for thesequence switch motor magnet 111, which will drive it from position 18to position 1. It is now in a position to be again selected by thecommon up -drive mechanism.

The circuits herein disclosed form no part of the present invention .andhave been shown and described merely in order that the operation of theswitch may be better tively engaging a selected shaft with said powerdevice.

3. In a telephone exchange, a group of longitudinally movable switchshafts, a 1'0- tatable power device adjacent said shafts for moving anyone of them, a clutch magnet common to said shafts for operativelyengaging a selected shaft with said power device, and means forassociating said clutch magnet with said selected switch.

4. In a telephone exchange, a group of switches, an operating magnetcommon to said switches, and means for moving said magnet into positionto operate any one of said switches when taken for use.

5. In a telephone exchange, a group of longitudinally movable brushshafts, a rotatable power device common to said shafts for moving them,a clutch magnet for associating'said shafts with said power device, andmeans for placing said magnet in association with any one of saidswitches.

6. In a telephone exchange system, a group of switches, a set ofoperating magnets common to said switches, and means for moving saidmagnets into position to operate any one of said switches.

7. In a telephone exchange, a group of longitudinally movable brushshafts, a 1'0- tatable power device common to said shafts, and a forwarddrive clutch magnet common to said switches for operatively associatinga selected one of said shafts with said power device.

8. In a telephone exchange system, a group of longitudinally movablebrush shafts, a rotatable power device common to said shafts, a forwarddrive clutch magnet common to said switches for operatively associatingany one of said shafts with said power device, and means for associatingsaid clutch magnet with a switch taken for use.

9. In a telephone exchange system, a group of switches, a clutch magnetcommon to said switches for causing their return to normal, and meansfor associating said clutch magnet with any one of said switches.

10. In a telephone exchange system, a group of longitudinally movablebrush. shafts, a rotatable power device for causing the return of saidswitches to their normal positions, a return drive clutch magnet andmeans for operatively associating said clutch magnet with any one ofsaid switches.

11. In a telephone exchange system, a-

group of switches, a plurality of brush sets on each switch, means fornormally maintaining the brushes of said sets in their inoperativeposition, a brush tripping device for each switch common to the brushsets thereof and a magnet .common to said switches for operating thetripping device of any one of said switches.

12. In a telephone exchange system, a group of switches, an operatingmagnet common to said switches, and a worm for operatively associatingsaid magnet with any one of said switches when taken for use.

13. In a telephone exchange system, a group of switches, a power devicefor moving said switches, means common to said switches for operativelyengaging a selected switch with said power device and a worm forassociating said means with said switch.

14:. In a telephone exchange, a group of longitudinally movable switchshafts, a rotatable power device adjacent said shafts for moving any oneof them, a clutch magnet common to said shafts for operatively engaginga selected shaft with said power device, and an endless worm forassociating said clutch magnet with said selected switch.

15. In a telephone exchange, a group of longitudinally movable brushshafts, a rotatable power device common to said shafts for moving them,a clutch magnet for associating said shafts with said power device, aworm for placing said magnet in association with any one of saidswitches, and electro-magnetic means for controlling the operation ofsaid worm.

16. In a telephone exchange system, a group of longitudinally movablebrush shafts, a rotatable power device for causing the return of saidswitches to their normal positions, a return dive clutch magnet, and aworm for operatively associating said clutch magnet with any one of saidswitches.

17. In a telephone exchange system, a group of multiple brush switches,means for normally maintaining the brushes of said switches in theirinoperative position, a brush tripping device for each switch, a. magnetcommon to said switches for operating the tripping device of any one ofsaid switches, and a worm and follower for operatively associating saidmagnet with a selected one of said switches.

18. In a telephone exchange system, a group of longitudinally movablebrush shafts, a power device, a forward drive clutch magnet, a worm onwhich said magnet is mounted, and means for rotating said worm toassociate said magnet with any one of said shafts.

1.9. In a telephone exchange system, a group of switches a forward drivepower device, a magnet for operatively engaging any of said switcheswith said forward drive device, a return drive power device and a 21. Ina telephone exchange system, a group of switches, a forward drive powerdevice, a magnet for operatively engaging any of said switches with saidforward drive device, means for associating said magnet with a selectedswitch, a return drive power device, a magnet for operatively engagingany one of said switches with said return drive power device, andindependent means for associating said s cond mentioned magnet with anyswitch.

In a telephone exchange system, a group of switches, a forward drivepower device, an endless worm, a magnet mounted on said worm, forindependently operatlvely engaging said switches with said forward drivedevice, means for rotating said worm to associate said magnet with aselector switch, a return drive power device, a second worm, a magnetfor independently operatively engaging said switches with said returndevice mounted on said second worm and means for rotating said secondworm to associate said second magnet with any switch.

In a telephone exchange system, a group of longitudinally movable brushshafts, a power device, a forward drive clutch magnet, a worm on whichsaid magnet is mounted, means for rotating said worm to associate saidmagnet with any one of said shafts, a second power device, a. returndrive clutch magnet a second worm on which said return drive magnet ismounted, and means for causing the rotation of said second worm toassociate said return drive clutch magnet with any one of said shafts.

24:. In a telephone exchange system, a group of longitudinally movablebrush shafts, a power device, a forward drive clutch magnet, an endlessworm on which said magnet is mounted, means for rotating said worm toassociate said magnet with any one of said shafts, a second powerdevice, a return drive clutch magnet, a second endless worm on whichsaid return drive magnet is mounted and means for causing the rotationof said second worm to associate said return drive clutch magnet withany one of said shafts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of MarchA. 1)., 1915.

J AMES L. MCQUARRIE.

Witnesses.

ANNA BAY Can, E. EDLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington; I). G.

